Baby cradle undulating mechanism



Jan. 28, 1964 J. E. HAYES BABY CRADLE UNDULATING `muscu-ummm Filed sept. 21, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN 0R. JOHN E #Arf-'5 Jan. 28, 1964 J. E. HAYES BABY CRADLE UNDULATING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 2l, 1962 United States Patent O BABY CRADLE UNDULATING MECHANISM .lohn E. Hayes, 784 Cedar Ave., Hawthorne, Calif. Filed Sept. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 225,185 4 Claims. (Cl. 5 109) This invention relates to baby cradles, and more particularly to a baby cradle assembly of the undulating type adapted to be used in hospitals, nurseries, or the like, to soothe infants or small children and aid in inducing sleep.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved undulating cradle device which is relatively simple in construction, which is compact in size and which is neat in appearance.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved undulating baby cradle assembly which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which is durable in construction, and which automatically provides vertical undulation and longitudinal translation of a baby cradle back and forth, thus soothing an infant or small child carried therein and causing the infant or small child to readily fall asleep.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal vertical cross sectional view taken through a baby cradle undulating assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an electrical wiring diagram showing the electrical connections of the baby crib undulating mechanism of FIGURES 1 to 4.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 6 6 of FIGURE 2.

Referring to the drawings, 11 generally designates an improved baby cradle undulating assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention. The assembly 11 comprises a horizontally extending main support, designated generally at 12, consisting of a horizontal bottom plate or wall 13 of generally rectangular shape provided with the respective depending supporting legs 14 secured adjacent its corners and extending downwardly and outwardly therefrom, as is clearly shown in FIGURES l and 2. The legs 14 are of substantial length so that the plate or board 13 is supported in an elevated position. Secured to the margins of the rectangular plate or wall member 13 are the upstanding vertical peripheral walls 15 defining a relatively shallow enclosure 16.

Secured to the wall member 13 and extending longitudinally thereof, substantially parallel to and adjacent to the longitudinal side walls of the aforesaid enclosure 16 are respective vertically undulated horizontal track members 17, 17, said track members having the vertically undulated top surfaces 1S. Designated at 19 is a generally rectangular supporting plate or board which is disposed in the upper portion of the enclosure 16 and which is provided with a plurality of depending vertical follower arms 21 at each longitudinal marginal portion thereof, the follower arms being secured to respective longitudinally extending supporting strips 22 secured to the underside of the plate or board 19. The strip members 22 are located over the respective vertically undulated track 3,119,125 Patented Jan. 28, 1964 ICC members 17, and each depending follower arm 21 is provided at its bottom end with a roller 24 which supportingly engages on the undulated top surface 13 of the subjacent track member 17.

Respective pairs of coiled springs 27, 27 connect the opposite end portions of the plate or board 19 to the bottom wall member 13 at the opposite sides of the member 19, the springs 27 being located adjacent the respective ends of said member 19, as shown in FIGURE 1. Thus, in the specific design illustrated in the drawings, four springs 27 are employed two springs being provided at each end of the member 19. The springs 27 are sufficiently yieldable to allow the member 19 to be translated horizontally in either direction through a substantial distance, said distance being at least equal to the horizontal length of a complete undulation of the top surface 1S.

Secured to the under side of the plate member 19 along its longitudinal center line is a downwardly facing rack bar 28 which is meshingly engaged by a pinion gear 29 secured on a transversely extending shaft 30 (FIGURE 2). The shaft 3% is journaled at its intermediate portion in a bearing block 31 of square transverse cross section, said bearing block being slidably mounted in an upstanding bearing bracket 32 secured to the bottom wall member 13. As shown in FIGURE 6, the upstanding bracket member 32 is formed with a vertical recess 33 whose side walls are slidably engaged by the sides of the bearing block 31, the bearing block 31 being biased upwardly by a coiled spring 34 vertically disposed in the recess 33 and bearing between block 31 and the bottom wall of said recess. The upstanding bracket member 32 is provided with a top cover plate 35 secured thereon overlying the bearing block 31.

As will be readily apparent, the spring 34 biases the bearing block 31 upwardly, and thus biases the pinion gear 29 into meshing engagement with the rack bar 28.

Secured on the end portion of shaft 3i) opposite the pinion gear 29 is a grooved pulley 37 engaged by a driving belt 38. The belt 38 is drivingly engaged on a drive pulley 39 provided on the output shaft 40 of a driving electric motor assembly 41, said assembly being provided with the gear reduction unit 42 containing the output shaft 40.

'Fhe bottom portion of the driving belt 38 is engaged by a grooved roller 43 on the end of a belt tightening arm 44 which is pivoted to an upstanding bracket 45 secured to bottom wall member 13, the arm 44 being biased in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 1 by a coiled spring 46 connected between the end portion of arm 44 opposite roller 43 and the lower portion of the bracket member 45, whereby to cause the roller 43 to bear upwardly on the lower portion of belt 3S and maintain the belt in a taut condition.

The driving motor 41 is of a convention direct current reversible type having split windings, said windings having the common center terminal 47 and the respective reversing winding end terminals 48 and 49. A battery 450 or other suitable direct current source is provided, one

pole of the battery being connected by a wire 51 to the center terminal 47 of motor 41.

Mounted on the bottom wall member 13 adjacent the shaft 4t) is an upstanding bracke-t member 52 in the top portion of which is journaled a -honizontal shaft 53. Secured on the shaft 40 is a helical worm member 54 and meshing with the worm member 54 is a worm gear 55 secured on the shaft 53. Pivoted on the vertical upstanding bracket 52 is a spring-biased toggle arm 57. The bracket member 52 is made of insulating material and the toggle arm 57 is made of conductive material, the pivotal connection of said toggle arm, shown at 58, being o connected by a wire 59 to the remaining pole of battery 50 through a manually operated control switch 60. lAs shown, the intermediate portion of the toggle arm 57 is connected by a coiled spring 61 to a lug 62 provided on the base portion of the bracket 52, so that the arm 57 is biased toward engagement with respective stop pins 63 or 64 provided at the side portions of the upstanding bracket 52 and being engageable with the top end portions of the arm 57. The arm 57 may be moved from one stop pin toward the other, passing through a dead center position, the spring 61 acting to bias the arm toward either stop pin 63 or 64 after -the arm has been swung through said dead center position.

Secured on the intermediate portion of the shaft 53 is a collar member 66 provided with an outwardly projecting radial pin element 67 which is engageable with the top portion of the arm 57 responsive to rotation of the shaft 63, the collar element `67 rotating in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE in one phase of operation of the device, whereby to engage the arm 57 and rotate it clockwise from the pin 63 to the pin 64, and being reversible so as to rotate in a clockwise direction thereafter and return the arm 57 from the pin 64 to the pin 63.

Mounted on the upstanding bracket 52 are respective arcuate contact plates 70 and 71 engageable by the arm 57 in either of its pin-engaging positions. Contact 70 is connected by a wire 72 to the motor terminal 48 and contact 71 is connected by la wire 73 to the motor terminal 49. With the arm 57 in the position illustrated in FIG- URE 5, namely, in engagement with pin 63, the arm 57 engages the terminal 70, so that if switch 60 is closed a circuit is completed to energize one of the motor windings as follows: IBattery wire 51, motor terminal 47, motor terminal 48, wire 72, contact plate 70, arm 57, wire 59, and the switch y60 to the remaining battery terminal. 'Ilhe energization of the motor winding connected between the terminals 47 and 48 causes the motor to drive the plate member 19 horizontally inone direction, at the same time causing the shaft 53 to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 5, whereby the arm 57 is swung Ifrom the position of FIGURE 5 to a position engaging the pin 64. This deenergizes the motor winding connected between terminals 47 `and 48 and energizes the opposite motor winding, namely, that connected between the terminals 47 and 49 by a circuit comprising battery wire 51, terminal 47, the aforesaid motor winding, terminal 49, wire 73, contact plate 51, arm 57, wire 59, and the switch 60 to the remaining battery terminal. This reverses the motor 41, causing the plate member 19 to reverse its horizontal travel and at the same time caus- -ing the shaft '53 .to rotate in a clockwise direction, as

viewed fin FIGURE 5, returning the arm 57 to the position shown in FIGURE 5. t

It will thus be seen that when the switch 60 is closed, the supporting plate 19,moves horizontally alternately in opposite longitudinal directions, the follower rollers 24 thereof travelingialong theundulated top surfaces 18 of the track members 17,.so,that the supporting plate 19 is vertically undulated as it moves horizontally.

Secured on the supporting plate 19 is a baby bassinet or cradle, shown at 80, Vthe cradle being adapted to receive an infant or small child. The bassinet or cradle 80 is fastened to the supporting plate 19 by connecting springs 81 which secure the bottom ends of respective end strap assemblies 82, 82 to the end portions of the plate member `19 and by similar coiled springs83 which con- ,nect the bottom ends of side straps 84 to the plate member 19. The intermediate Velements of the end strap assemblies 82 are provided with hooks 85 at their top ends which engage over the ends of the rim of the bassinet or cradle 80, and the side straps 84 are similarly provided with top hooks 86 engaging over the side portions of said rim. i

As above explained, when the switch 60 is closed, the supporting plate 19 carrying the bassinet or cradle 8 0 is translated horizontally and is simultaneously vertically undulated because of the engagement of the follower rollers 24 with the undulated top surfaces 18 of the track members 17. The 'bassinet or cradle 80 is thus moved horizontally in alternate directions and is at the same time gently undulated. This provides a soothing action for an infant in the bassinet or cradle 80, which serves to quickly induce sleep as well as to soothe the infant.

Since the top surfaces 18 are relatively smoothly undulated and the backandforth movement of the supporting plate 19 is at a relatively slow rate, the operation of the device is smooth and quiet.

While a specific embodiment of an improved undulating baby cradle assembly has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims. l

What is claimed is:

l. An undulating baby cradle assembly comprising a horizontally extending support, vertically undulating track means on said support, a baby cradle disposed over said support, spring means connecting said cradle to said support, yieldably securing the cradle to the support and urging the cradle downwardly toward the support, follower means depending from and supporting said cradle yand held in engagement with said undulating track means by said spring means, and means to move said baby cradle horizontally alternately in opposite directions along said undulating track means, whereby to vertically undulate said cradle as it is moved horizontally.

2. An undulating baby cradle assembly comprising a horizontally extending support, vertically undulating track .means on said support, a baby cradle disposed over said support, spring means connecting said cradle to said support and yieldably securing the cradle to the support, follower means depending from and supporting said cradle and engaging said undulating track means, a reversible electric motor mounted on said support, translating means drivingly connecting said electric motor to said cradle to move said baby cradle horizontally along said undulating track means, whereby to vertically undulate said cradle as it is moved horizontally and means to reverse the motor at predetermined opposite end positions of said cradle relative to said track means.

3. An undulating baby cradle assembly comprising a horizontally extending support, vertically undulating `track means on said support, a baby cradle disposed over said support, spring means connecting said cradle to said support and yieldably securing the cradle to the support, follower means depending from and supporting said cradle and engaging said undulating track means, a reversible electric motor mounted on said support, a rack gear on the under side of the cradle, a pinion gear meshing with said rack gear, spring means biasing said pinion gear upwardly to maintain it in meshing engagement with said rack gear, and means driving said pinion gear from the motor to move said baby cradle horizontally along said undulating track means, whereby to vertically undulate said cradle as it is moved horizontally.

4. An undulating baby cradle assembly comprising a horizontally extending support, vertically undulating track means on said support, a baby cradle disposed over said support, spring means connecting said cradle to said support and yieldably securing the cradle to the support, follower means depending from and supporting said cradle and engaging said undulating track means, a reversible electric motor mounted on said support, a rack gear on the under side of the cradle, a pinion gear meshing with said rack gear, spring meansbiasing said pinion gear upwardly to maintain it in meshing engagement with said 3,1 1 9,12 5 5 rack gear, means driving said pinion gear from the motor References Cited in the le of this patent to move said baby cradle horizontally along said undulat- UNITED STATES PATENTS ing track means, whereby to vertically undulate said cradle relative to said track means. 

1. AN UNDULATING BABY CRADLE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING SUPPORT, VERTICALLY UNDULATING TRACK MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT, A BABY CRADLE DISPOSED OVER SAID SUPPORT, SPRING MEANS CONNECTING SAID CRADLE TO SAID SUPPORT, YIELDABLY SECURING THE CRADLE TO THE SUPPORT AND URGING THE CRADLE DOWNWARDLY TOWARD THE SUPPORT, FOLLOWER MEANS DEPENDING FROM AND SUPPORTING SAID CRADLE AND HELD IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID UNDULATING TRACK MEANS BY SAID SPRING MEANS, AND MEANS TO MOVE SAID BABY CRADLE HORIZONTALLY ALTERNATELY IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS ALONG SAID UNDULATING TRACK MEANS, WHEREBY TO VERTICALLY UNDULATE SAID CRADLE AS IT IS MOVED HORIZONTALLY. 